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EXPANSION. LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT, AND EQUAL 
TAXATION, THE AMERICAN POLICY. 



'/ 



SPEKCH 



HON. WM. M. STEWART. 

OF NEVADA, 



SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES, 



FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1900. 



WASHINGTON'. 
I900. 






i 









STEECH 

OF 

HON. WILLIAM M. STEWART. 



The Senate having under consideration the joint resolution (S. R. 45) 
declaring the purpose of the United States with reference to the Philippine 
Islands- 
Mr. STEWART said: 

Mr. PRESIDENT: No amount of fault-finding, protesting, or re- 
monstrating will prevent the fulfillment of the manifest destiny of 
the United States. On the 11th of January. 1871, a resolution was 
pending in the Senate to appoint a commission to go to San Do- 
mingo and examine the condition of the country and the people 
and report as to the advisability of ratifying the treaty of annexa- 
tion. In discussing that resolution I said: 

I believe that it is a part of the destiny of this country, whether for good 
or evil, to annex more territory. I do not believe in the power of any 
man. or of any sel of men, or of any party, to prevent the accomplish men t of 
thai destiny. While this Republic grows it must expand.it must increase; 
11 mnsl extend its territory asitswealth and power increase. That has been 
fcory of every country while it was attaining its destiny. History does 
not furnish us an example of any nation that has risen to power and promi- 
nence which has aot during its growth expanded. It is one of the elements 
of growth for a nation to expand as much as it is the element of growth in 
the oak, which, as it grows, must have room to extend its trunk and multiply 
Lte branches. -CotigresHondl Olobe, Forty-first Congress, third session, Part 
I, page 427. 

Subsequent events have strengthened me in the views I then 
ezpre ■ d. 

While it is true that the opposition to President Grant's Admin- 
istration mustered over one-third of the votes of the Senate, and 
defeated the treaty, the parties who engaged in the defeat were 
overwhelmed at the next election. Their desperate effort to defeat 
I'p-ident ( frant'sre taction, by a combination with the Democrats 
to elect Mr. Greeley President, illustrates the unp opularity of that 
partisan attempt to limit the growth of the Republic. 

2 4071 



"-> 



TI E LOUISIANA I'l'ld II W_ 

Whatever of despotism, imperialism, or disregard of the consent 
of the governed there maybe in the acquisition of the Philippines 
or any other territory which may add to the wealth and power of 
the country and furnish new and greater opportunities for our 
progressive and enterprising youth, the principle of such acquisi- 
tion is Jeffersonian Democracy. When the author of the Declara- 
tion of Independence doubled the area of the United States, Loui- 
siana alone contained a population of over 49,0<ii), with an organized 
and established government, while the vast territory included in 
the purchase outside of Louisiana contained hundreds of thousands 
of Indians equally entitled to consideration with the savages in 
the interior of many of the islands of the Philippines. It never 
occurred to Mr. Jefferson that it was necessary for him to consult 
the people of Louisiana or the Indian tribes of the West before he 
made that vast area a part of the United States. 

The government established for Louisiana by Jefferson has fur- 
nished the model for every Territorial government which the 
United States has since established, and the denunciation, fore- 
bodings, and warnings against what was termed imperialism and 
disregard of human rights which the Louisiana purchase inspired 
have also furnished a model for all subsequent denunciations 
whenever new territory has been acquired. There was nothing 
new in the ravings of the Whig party againsl the acquisition of 
California and New Mexico which had not been said against the 
Louisiana pun base. Polk was abused during his term of office 
with equally as much vehemence and acrimony for the annexa- 
tion of New Mexico and California as Jefferson was for the 
Louisiana purchase. 

The parallel did not stop there. The policy of the Federalists 
who opposed the Louisiana purchase destroyed that party, and it 
never again elected a President of the United States: but it se- 
cured the supremacy of the Democratic party for more than 
twenty years. The election of John Quincy Adams by the House 
of Representatives in 1835 was the first break in Democratic power 
after the narrow, anti-expansion policy of the Federal party was 
adopted. 

4071 



THE ACQUISITION FROM MEXICO. 

The Democratic party again came into power under Jackson 
in 1829, and continued in power under Jackson and Van Buren 
until 1841. So strong was the prejudice against the name of Fed- 
eralist on account of its narrow and illiberal policy that a new 
name was adopted by Henry Clay and his associates, who were 
opposed to Jackson's Administration. They called their new or- 
ganization the Whig party, and achieved power in the memorable 
contest of 1840 on account of the financial crash of 1837, which 
was attributed to the Democratic party. 

William Henry Harrison was elected President, and on his 
death, a short time after his inauguration, Tyler became President. 
In 1844 Polk of Tennessee was elected President. Whatever may 
have been the merits or demerits of the Administration of Presi- 
dent Polk, the acquisition of Texas, California, Nevada, Utah. 
New Mexico, Arizona, and part of Colorado attest the wisdom of 
its policy. The abuse against Polk's Administration by the 
leaders of the Whig party equaled, if it did not surpass, the 
efforts of the Federal party in the beginning of the century to 
destroy Jefferson for his alleged disregard of justice, humanity, 
;md the rights of sovereign States of the East. 

The disappointed ambition of the great leaders of the Whig 
party, on account of the disapproval of the people, embittered the 
last days of the great men of that party, whose brilliant oratory 
and matchless logic adorn the history of their time. No matter 
how "brilliant or influential they were, they could not withstand 
the irresistible aspirations of the American people to expand, pro- 
gress, and achieve. 

THE ISLANDS ACQUIRED FROM SPAIN. 

The acquisition of the Philippines and other lands from Spain, 
in a war waged for humanity and against the cruelties of a bar- 
barous and decaying monarchy, is one of the most important 
additions to the territory of the United States since the adoption 
of the Constitution. The islands we have secured are essential to 
our financial independence. The people of the United States pay 
annually more than $350,000,000 to foreigners for tropical and semi- 
tit »pical commodities. The United States can never be thoroughly 

4071 



self-sustaining until the people can produce what they consume. 
The Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Cuba would mitigate to some 
extent the evils of the gold-standard folly. 

With the acquisition of these islands everything consumed in 
this country might be supplied from our own natural resources. 
Such acquisition would enable us to enter upon the inevitable 
struggle for the commodity gold on equal terms with other 
countries. It might do more. It might give us some advantages 
which no other country would enjoy. The ^old-gambling law 
under which we must live until we can break the chains of finan- 
cial bondage with which the gold syndicate has bound us will 
compel the United States to buy the fluctuating commodity gold 
at any cost. If we can not supply ourselves with tropical and 
semitropical products in our own country, we must buy them of 
foreigners, who will demand gold in exchange. If we must pay 

$250, ,000 in gold to foreigners for commodities which wecould 

produce with the acquisition of these islands, such acquisition is 
most important. 

With the islands, the contest to save this country from impover- 
ishment which must necessarily follow the contraction of the 
volume of the circulating medium to gold alone, will be sufficiently 
severe, but without them the struggle may become hopeless. Bui 
if we can produce everything we consume and the Secretary of 
the Treasury will be merciful and col load us too heavily with 
foreign tk'ht by the sale of bonds, we may Buffer less for the fetich 
folly of the gold standard than other nations who bow down before 
this false god. We must be prepared to contend with the world 
at large for gold, because the ruling money syndicate will not al- 
lowthe United States to stamp its legal-tender authority upon any 
other commodity. This struggle for gold upon which to stamp 
the law of legal tender, if the gold syndicate remains in power, 
will be a contest among the nations for the survival of the fittest. 
There is some hope that with the additions of these islands to our 
vast national resources, coupled with the skill and enterprise of 
our people, the evil day of serfdom may be postponed for a 
time, although the shadow of feudalism already visible in the Old 
World may in the near future become total darkness. 
4071 



OPPORTUNITIES AFFORDED BY NEW POSSESSIONS. 

The prognostications of evil arising from the annexation of 
territory so often repeated ought not to deprive the people of the 
United States of the opportunities held out to them by our new 
acquisitions. Why should not the present generation enjoy op- 
portunities similar to those furnished our fathers by the acquisi- 
tion of Louisiana, Florida, Texas, New Mexico, and California? 
Why should not the wealth, power, and enterprise of the Ameri- 
can people be increased and encouraged? May not the acquisi- 
tion of the islands of the Atlantic and the Pacific wrested from 
Spain place the United States in the near future foremost as a 
manufacturing, commercial, naval, and political power? 

ACQUISITION OF TERRITORY NOT IMPERIALISM. 

The suggestion that the acquisition of territory is imperialism 
is refuted by the fact that neither Jefferson, Monroe, Jackson, 
Polk, nor any of their associates are regarded as imperialists. 
The imperialism they advocated made homes for patriotic, liberty- 
loving, self-respecting citizens, whose loyalty to the Government 
of the United States is unsurpassed by the people of any of the 
thirteen original States. 

If to assist the people of the Philippines to establish local self- 
government after the plan adopted by Jefferson is imperialism, 
then Jefferson was the pioneer imperialist of the United States. 
The Philippines will never be dependent colonies. They will be 
allowed to conduct their own affairs with the assistance of such 
officers as it may be necessary to appoint to aid them in establish- 
ing local self-government. They will not have a voice in the leg- 
islative councils of the nation until Congress shall ascertain and 
determine that their admission as States would be desirable. Not- 
withstanding the treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo promised to make 
States of the territories acquired from Mexico, New Mexico is still 
a Territory. The suggestion that we must not trust the future, 
that those who come after us will admit the Philippines as 
States, whether qualified or not, is an assumption that our system 
of republican government is a failure and that patriotism will 
become extinct when the seats in this Chamber are filled by our 
successors. 

407i 



PAST FOREBODINGS OF CALAMITIES. 

No person occupies a seat here to-day but myself who was a 
member of the Senate in the Thirty-eighth, Thirty-ninth. Fortieth, 
Forty-first, and Forty-second Congresses. I was impressed during 
that time with the anxiety of many Senators for the future and 
their forebodings of calamities which they contended would nec- 
essarily follow if the opponents of the Union in the civil war were 
again allowed to participate in the government of the country. 
They assumed in their arguments that future Congresses could 
not be trusted and that the Government was in danger of being 
utterly subverted. How they misjudged the future let the heroic 
patriotism and valor of the soldiers from every State in the Union 
in the late war with Spain and in the far-off Philippines bear wit- 
ness. The patriotism and fidelity to the interests of the whole 
country exhibited in both Houses of Congress by members from 
the South as well as from the North prove that a reunited people 
now enjoy a more perfect union than ever before. I have faith 
in my country and in the American people that they can extend a 
helping hand to the Filipinos and enable them to peacefully as- 
semble and perfect in due time local self-government where life 
and property will be as secure as it now is in any State of this 
Union. I have seen order grow out of confusion in that vast ter- 
ritory acquired from Mexico, until the governments of the fax 
West are as efficient in protecting life, liberty, and property 88 
the best-governed State of the East. 

i \n rsiok oi ran urarmmom over new AOQtnsmona 
No one pretends that the Filipinos are now fit for si atehood. but 
I repudiate the suggestion that they are not fit for just such gov- 
ernment as Jefferson extended to the Louisiana purchase and 
Monroe to the acquisition of Florida. There may not be enough 
Americans in that country to organize a State government with- 
out ( 'ongressional or Executive action, as in the case of California; 
but if the same Congressional and Executive care that was ex- 
bendedto all other acquisitions of territory except California is 
extended to the Philippines, they will progress— it may be slowly, 
but they will progress in working out good government for them- 
selves and security for life and property, which will bring pros- 
4071 



8 

perity and progress to them and great commercial and political 
advantages to us. 

The history of the spread of our institutions over new acquisi- 
tions is most instructive in dealing with the Filipinos. 

In the fall of 1803 President Jefferson appointed Governor Clai- 
borne, of the Mississippi Territory, and General Wilkinson com- 
missioners for receiving possession of the ceded territory from the 
commissioner of France, and gave Governor Claiborne a commis- 
sion authorizing him provisorily to exercise within the ceded ter- 
ritory all the powers with which the Spanish governor-general 
and intendant were clothed, except that of granting lands. 

President Jefferson took a common-sense view of the situation, 
and in accordance with the laws of nations administered and 
enforced the laws, customs, and regulations of the former gov- 
ernment, with such changes only as were necessary to conform to 
the new conditions. Congress gave him all the power needed, and 
from time to time passed the necessary laws for the establish- 
ment of complete Territorial governments as fast as they were 
required. 

HOW CALIFORNIA WAS GOVERNED. 

The territorial contractionists, now finding the sentiment of the 
country in favor of expansion, are attempting to hedge by de- 
claring that the acquisition of the Philippines is imperialism. 
They do not seem to recognize the distinction between extent of 
country and form of government. A country may be very small 
and its government very despotic, or it may be very large and 
its government very liberal. Free republican government is 
the birthright of the people of the United States, and wherever 
a necessity exists they organize self-government after the model 
of the free institutions with which they are familiar. They need 
not necessarily wait for Congressional action, or even Executive 
authority. When Commodore Sloat, at Monterey, in July, 1846, 
proclaimed California free from Mexican rule, he issued a procla- 
mation to the people informing them of the change of government 
and assuring them that their political, civil, and religious rights 
would be protected. From that time until the arrival of Brigadier- 
General Riley, on the 12th of April, 1849, the country was governed 
by various military officers assuming both military and civil 
authority. These military officers caused the Mexican laws, so 

4071 



g 

far as they were applicable, to be executed by the persons holding 
the local offices and sue h other persons as were elected by the peo- 
ple or appointed by the military authorities to fill vacancies. 

On the l2thof April. 1849, Brigadier-General Riley arrived in 
San Francisco as military governor, with instructions from the 
War Department to administer civil affairs. He was unable to 
retain his military force because the soldiers left him and went to 
the mines, but he proceeded to organize a civil government and 
ordered an election on the 1st of August. 1849, (or delegates toa 
constitutional convention to be held on the 1st of September of 
that year. The convention met. formed a constitution, and an elec- 
tion was held in November for members Of the legislature and State 
officers. Peter Burnett was elected governor, and a full-fledged 
State government went into operation on the 1st day of January, 
I860. The volume containing the legislation of the first session 
of the legislature, beginning January 1. 1850, will compare favor- 
ably with the system of laws in force in any State in the Union. 
Gwin and Fremont were elected Senators, and on the 9th of 
September, l^"' 11 . California was admitted into the Union. Con- 
gress Legislated very lit tie for the mining regions of the Wea . and 
nofLaWSWere passed for nearly a quarter Of a century disposing 
of the mineral lands. Here again the American people who oc- 
cupied the country made their own laws, rule-, and regulations, 
which the courts adopted and enforced, and the reports of the 
supreme court of California and the surrounding Territories con- 
tain a system of common law which grew up among the miners 
themselves without any I n ; -tonal action. 'n 1866, .iust 
twenty years alter the acquisition of the country. Congress pa--.- 1 
an act legalizing the rules and regulations established by the 
miners and providing for the issuance of patents on compliance 

with the miners' laws. 

tiik rim iimmm - 

Thus it will be seen that the American people carry with them 
their institutions wherever they go. The same will be true of the 
Philippines. Americans will go tnere and aid the natives in ex- 
ecuting their local laws, and all that will be necessary in assisting 
the people of the archipelago in maintaining local self- government 
will be to appoint a few officers, make a few necessary changes in 
their laws to adapt them to the changed condition, protect them 

4071 



10 

from foreign interference or domestic violence, and they will be- 
come useful and law-abiding people. They should also be al- 
lowed to send Delegates to Congress, not to legislate, but to advise; 
not to interfere with the institutions of our country, but to learn 
our form of government for the benefit of their constituents. The 
whole matter is very simple. It will develop and can not be in- 
terrupted. 

The President has acted wisely in selecting an eminent jurist in 
the prime of life to assist the natives of the Philippine Islands in 
establishing local self-government after the models which our 
country so abundantly furnishes. All liberty-loving people, when 
thej- attempt to establish a government, look to our country for 
models for their guidance. Constitutions similar to our own 
have been adopted in Mexico and in various States of South 
America. Although the Republics to the south of us frequently 
fall short of the high standard of legislation and administration 
prevailing in this country, still they are progressing in the right 
direction. The Filipinos themselves already look to the United 
States for models for constitutions and laws in their own country, 
as evidenced by the proclamations and publications which we read 
in the newspapers. 

We want very little legislation for the Philippines. We want 
their leaders to come here and see how we govern ourselves, so as 
to enable them to do likewise. We wish for the Filipinos peace 
and good order, and they will have them with very little assistance 
from us. The absurd charge that there is any intention on the 
part of the Administration or the Republican or the Democratic 
party to govern the Philippines or any other territory which we 
have acquired or may acquire as colonies by the strong arm of the 
military power is entirely without foundation. There is no more 
doubt that the Philippines, with our assistance, will have good 
government, and that they will be beneficial to us, than there is 
that good government has been secured under the American flag 
wherever it has floated. 

Besides, we have assumed the responsibility of establishing civil 
government in the Philippines for the protection of the lives and 
property of the foreign as well as the American residents there, 
and to see to it that the relations of the islands with foreign coun- 
tries are such as the law of nations require. 
4>;i 



11 

PROTECTORATE [^COMPATIBLE with FREE INSTITUTION'S 

In the struggle to suggest something in opposition to the time- 
honored methods of treating new acquisitions, some advocate a 
protectorate and in the same breath proclaim againstimperialism. 
They do not define what they mean by a protectorate— whether 
they mean to govern the islands bya < Sromwell or a Warren Basl 
ings, or whether they mean to subject I lis islands to the intrigues 
and aggressions of foreigners and go to war with all the world to 
maintain the rights of the Filipinos to violate the laws of nations. 
No protectorate has ever existed which was compatible with free 
institutions or in accord with the principles of our Government. 
After having undertaken to establish law. order, and good gov- 
ernment in the Philippines, we can not abandon them without 
disgrace to the United States. If we allow them to set up their 
own local self-government under our Territorial system, we can 
guide and prorect them without any danger of foreign complica- 
tions. 

When the opponents of the acquisition of territory meet a grow- 
ing sentiment of the country in favor of doing our duty toward 
the Philippines, as we have in all other cases, they say that the Fili- 
pinos are not as enlightened as the peopleof Massachusetts or Ver- 
mont, and consequently we must abandon the acquisition, We 
reply that if such a rule had been adopted with regard to Louisiana, 
Florida, Texas. California, or New Mexico, the boundary of oar 
country to-day would be the same as it was when the < Constitution 
was adopted. It is very doubtful if any acquisition can be m id< 
hereafter if the rule is adopted thai \ pie of the and t<> be ac- 
quired must be equally intelligent with us to become a part of the 
United Mates. I have no doubt that the Filipinos are the moel 

intelligent | pic we have ever annexed, although the barbarians 

in those islands are numerous, if we expand, we must take the 
world as it is and the people as they are. as we have always done. 

impost DUTIES on PUERTO iu< an PRODI l is ckkgnant with r.vil.. 

I am aware of the suggestion of an impost duty upon the prod- 
ucts of Puerto Rico, which, of course, would be one of the w< irst 
forms of a colonial policy. This suggestion is pregnant with evil. 
and. if carried out, would furnish substantial groundwork for the 
charge of imperialism. It would be too much like the exactions 

4071 



12 

which imperial Rome made upon her conquered provinces, and it 
might furnish a parallel to some extent of the imperial policy of 
monarcnical countries in recent times. I am glad the President 
of the United States has not made that mistake. On the contrary, 
in his last annual message he says: 

Our plain duty is to abolish all customs tariffs between the United States 
and Puerto Rico and give her products free access to our markets. 

The recommendation of the Secretary of War, contained in his 
last annual report, describes in forceful language the injustice of 
erecting a tariff barrier against the products of Puerto Rico. 
Since the transfer of the island to the United States Spain has 
erected such a barrier; and if the United States does likewise, her 
markets will be cut off and the people will be in a deplorable con- 
dition. I will print as an appendix to my remarks a portion of 
the report of the Secretary of War and commend it to the careful 
consideration of Congress. 

PRECEDENTS AGAINST TARIFF ON PRODUCTS FROM NEW ACQUISITIONS. 

I am glad the President in his recommendation and the Secre- 
tary of War in his report are governed by the established policy 
of the United States in treating with the people of newly acquired 
territory. Their recommendations are in harmony with the fol- 
lowing precedents: 

On the 25th of November, 1803, and contemporaneously with 
taking possession of the Louisiana purchase, Congress passed an 
act removing restrictions of trade between the United States and 
the Territory of Orleans, thereby fully recognizing the new terri- 
tory as a part of the United States entitled to the privileges of 
American customs and revenue laws. 

On the ?th of May, 1822, the customs laws of the United States 
were extended over Florida. 

The military officers governing California, previous to the pas- 
sage of any law of Congress, enforced the customs laws of the 
United States and collected over $600,000 of duties on imports 
from foreign countries, and when Congress acted the customs 
laws of the United States were extended to all the territory ob- 
tained from Mexico. 

It was never before suggested that any territory acquired by 
the United States should be treated as alien territory by imposing 

4071 



L3 

a customs duty on Imports Into the United States. T am glad to 
kiiMW that the Presidenl of the United Stat.'- folly realizes the 
injustice of an attempt to treal any territory which we claim as 
our own as a foreign country. His a.u Lee againsl a duty on im- 
ports from Puerto Rico nausi i"- followed if we hop.- to have pea ••■ 
ami prosperity there with Its accruing benefits to the United States. 
Tii.' colonial policy of greed, with discriminating duties againsl 
the products of our own territory, would I itisfaction 

and discord. It might lead t . . militarism. It might requires 
large army to maintain order and force the people of the colonies 
to submit to such unjust and discrimins [tmightdo 

more. It might involve vast expenditures to maintain an. 
occupation, which would btfdangeroustothesafetyoftheRepublia 

If \ V . treat F Woo as we tre ••■ I Louisiana, Florida 

California, the ] that island will learn to Ameri- 

can tlau r and will Boon be loyal Americans In tead of a Bnllen and 
.,,,•,.1 people, Buffering from discriminating laws. The 
mutual advanta i tinning the established American policy 

in the treatment oi Pnerl rill be very great [twill not 

only secure the friend hip and loyalty of thai island, but it will 
furnish an example which will be most beneficial in our d< i 
with Cuba The great prosperity which Puerto Rico will 
will be an irresistible argument with Cuba in favor oi joining 
her fortunes with I Republic. 

Our relations wil momalqus. Wehavenopreei 

for such responsibi ' untry, 

■ 
.. ,,f all other territories which the United 
quired and afford as an opportunity to furnish a:. 
the i pie ot Cuba. 

,., , vi R I Il» 181 U 

The discussion of thecoi 

n with these islands la onprofitabl . 1 doubt that 

Congress has power to rob the territorii osand ws 

render the people of our new acquisitions 

they were under the horrible Bystem of Spanish extortion which 
we undertook to abolish. There is no doubt that the people of 
4071 



14 

the United States could amend the Constitution and reestablish 
slavery if they were wicked enough to do so. It would be just as 
profitable to discuss whether the people could, if they would, es- 
tablish a monarchy in this country as it is to discuss the question 
whether Congress has the constitutional power to discriminate 
against the people of the new acquisitions by unequal revenue 
laws or any other system of extortion which greed may suggest. 
But it is necessary for those who support and defend the con- 
tinued possession of the vast acquisitions of territory which we 
have acquired from Spain to adhere to the Jeffersonian policy in 
our treatment of the people of these islands. Departure from that 
policy opens a wide field of discussion. While the opponents of 
annexation may give aid and comfort to Aguinaldo and his follow- 
ers by their unpatriotic and intemperate ravings against the war 
now prosecuted at great cost and sacrifice of the lives of our brave 
soldiers, it is the plain duty of Jeffersonian expansionists to main- 
tain our established policy in our treatment of the people inhabit- 
ing the new acquisitions. The country has a right to know that 
no imperialism or militarism is intended; that the people of the 
islands will be treated in the same manner that the people of 
Louisiana. Florida, and California were treated, and that no army 
will be necessary to make them submit to the local governments 
which we will assist in ordaining and establishing. It may be 
that there are savages in those islands, as in the case of every other 
acquisition, that will require military force to keep in subjection, 
but the millions of people who occupy those islands who are not 
savages will furnish no excuse for militarism or imperialism. 

TEACHINGS OF THE FATHERS FOLLOWED KY THE PRESIDENT. 

Whatever mistakes may have been made in dealing with the 
Filipinos or in failing to fully acquaint them with the policy of 
our Government, the President's message recommending equal 
laws for Puerto Rico and the appointment of Judge Taft to com- 
mence the work of instructing and aiding the Filipinos to estab- 
lish and maintain local self-government indicate very clearly that 
the President has no idea of departing from the teachings of the 
fathers or establishing an empire on the ruins of the Republic. 
It will be impossible for the opponents of progress to impress upon 
the minds of the people that the size of a country has anything to 
4071 



15 

flo with the form of government If repnblioi can only exist in 
small territories, the United Btatee passed that limit ninety-seven 
Team ago, when the Louisiana purchase was made. The truth is. 
that when tlif situation isnnderstoodand the value of these acqui- 
sitions realized, the people oi the United Btatee wfll be as unwill- 
ing to give up an inch of territory in the Philippine [slandsssthey 

are now to Rive up any part ol Alaska. The United BtatM would 

go to war with Great Britain and take the consequenoea rather 
than to have 10 miles square of Alaska taken from ns, notwith- 
standing that when thai country was acquire. 1 it was supposed to 
be nothing but an iceberg. 

I hope thegrea* financial issue, upon which the happiness of the 
human race depend.;, will not be buried beneath the rubbish of 
anti expansion and fault-finding, as it was formally year- beneath 

the tariff controversy, but thai it will be kept before the] pie 

until the fetich worshipers of gold understand the money question 
as well as the descendants of the devotees of the Mat-world theory 
now understand that the world is round. 

APPENDIX. 
[From th,- report of 'li" Becretery of War for 189 

The question of tta onomlo treatment of the Island underlies nil the 

the] pie ere p rosp er o u s end here en ehondani f thei 

they will with Jnettoe l seOy governed, end will with i . 

Lyedacated. If they ere toft In hunger end bopetosa poverty, tl 
nted, intrectabto, end mutinous The princtpel dittoolty 
Land of Puerto Rico Is thet the transfer of the Island from Bpeln to the 
Unit. -,i Btatee has not resulted In an Incn erity.but In the r 

The industry of the Island is almost entirely agrioalturel The i pie live 

upon the producta of their own eof) and upon the article for whicb they ex- 
change their surplus produots abroad Th. dr produetkn is In the main ..; 
The prosperlt] < the Island depends upon their 
su'v.-< In selling I heee pro | 

Sol • and wee a pert of the Spanish poes e s slons thai 

Btantlally tree trade with Bpeln and with Cuba The I 

tor the four yean pr anedfng 1887 averaged about • 
which an average of lees than one-sixth part (|S iseoldtothel 

and an average of one-hall I ilnand Cuba 

Immediately upon the * I aid from Spain to the Unite 

Spain . iriff barrier against the introduction of Puerto Ki>- »n prod- 

acts, The interests of ( taban agriculture led to the erection of a similar Wr- 
rier in the tariff ado]. tod forOuhs waadebarTed from 

the principal markets which the had previously enjoyed, and at the same 
time this country has maintained it- tariff against Puerto Bican products 
just as it existed whilf the island wea Spanish territory. Th. : 
there has been a wall built around the industry of 1 

Even before the hurricane of August 8, MB, twocropsof tobacco lay in the 
warehouses of Pnerto Rico, which the owners wereuaable to sell at prioea 
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equal to the cost of production. Their sugar shared the prevailing depres- 
sion in that commodity, arising from the competition of bounty-fed beet 
sugar. Their coffee was practically unknown in the V nited States and had no 
market here. It is plain that it is essential to the prosperity of the island 
that she should receive substantially the same treatment at our hands as she 
received from Spain while a Spanish colony, and that the markets of the 
United States should be opened to her as were the markets of Spain and Cuba 
before the transfer of allegiance. Congress has the legal right to regulate 
the customs duties between the United States and Puerto Rico as it pleases; 
but the highest considerations of justice and good faith demand that we 
should not disappoint the confident expectation of sharing in our prosperity 
with which the people of Puerto Rico so gladly transferred their allegiance 
to the United States, and that we should treat the interests of this people as 
our own; and I wish most strongly to urge that th customs duties between 
Puerto Rico and the United States be removed. 



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